Mothetjoa Metsing

Mothetjoa Metsing
Deputy Prime Minister of Lesotho
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 June 2012
Monarch Letsie III
Prime Minister Tom Thabane
Personal details
Born Leribe District[1]
Nationality Mosotho
Political party LCD
Alma mater BSN (MBA)[1]
Website mothetjoametsing.co.ls

Mothetjoa Metsing is a Lesotho politician who has been Deputy Prime Minister of Lesotho since June 2012. He is a member of the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) and serves in the government of Prime Minister Tom Thabane. In 2014, he was involved in controversy over an alleged coup attempt against the prime minister that was eventually resolved over calls for an early election.

Political career

Before the 2012 general election, the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy suffered a split because of Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili's refusal to cede power.[2] Mosisili then founded a new party called the Ntsu Democratic Congress, in reference to the founder of the LCD, Ntsu Mokhehle. LCD Secretary-General Mothetjoa Metsing then moved to lead the LCD.[3] Tom Thabane leads another faction that broke away in 2006, the All Basotho Convention.[4] The LCD's Metsing said that he would not take part in a national unity government.[5] In like measure the ABC ruled out working with the LCD.[6] Yet after the election, the two parties, along with the Basotho National Party, were part of a coalition government.

Attempted coup d'état

Following political tensions and the suspension of parliament over the controversial change of the head of the army from Lieutenant General Kennedy Tlali Kamoli to Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao, an alleged attempted coup d'état forced Thabane to flee the country. He then returned under cover of South African and Namibian police, who guarded him around-the-clock. Under the auspices of the SADC, mediation led by South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa resulted in a call for an early election. Lesotho's King Letsie III set February 28, 2015, as the date for the election. Thabane was backed by the national police, while his deputy Metsing was backed by the army, which refused to recognise the change in army leadership.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Profile: Mothetjoa Metsing". mothetjoametsing.co.ls. 2012. Archived from the original on 8 May 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  2. ↑ "Lesotho votes in tight three-way race". Daily Times. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
  3. ↑ "Lesotho: Jumping Before He's Pushed". allAfrica.com. 2012-02-21. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
  4. ↑ "Polls close in Lesotho's general election". Al Jazeera English. 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
  5. ↑ 29 May 2012. "Lesotho: Election Results Force Leaders to Moot Coalition". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  6. ↑ Basildon Peta (2010-05-05). "DC extend lead in Lesotho poll". IOL.co.za. Retrieved 2012-05-31.